I got 2 of them and I really want to have them in a competitive list.

Yah its kinda anti-meta and Defenders are so expensive ...

lets try it anyway:

#1----- CRO

Colonel Vessery (36)
TIE Defender (35), Veteran Instincts (1)

Rexler Brath (40)
TIE Defender (37), Predator (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (24)
Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), ST-321 (3) -(OR Vader)-

= 100 points

#2----- Fat Defenders

Rexler Brath (52)
TIE Defender (37), Assault Missiles (5), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Push the Limit (3)

Colonel Vessery (48)
TIE Defender (35), Assault Missiles (5), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Veteran Instincts (1)

= 100 points

What do you think? Are those lists competitive?

Any other ideas?

Something I;ve been meaning to try:

Shadow + Stygium + Fire-Control x2

Vessery + Outmaneuver

#1----- CRO

Colonel Vessery (36)

TIE Defender (35), Veteran Instincts (1)

Rexler Brath (40)

TIE Defender (37), Predator (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (24)

Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), ST-321 (3) -(OR Vader)-

= 100 points

I've tried this list before, I would recommend Weapons Engineer instead of ST-321 as a better help for Vessery ... Another good choice would be to drop the upgrade and change the OGP to Captain Yorr which will give your Defenders the otherwise red 1 and 2 turns

#2----- Fat Defenders

Rexler Brath (52)

TIE Defender (37), Assault Missiles (5), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Push the Limit (3)

Colonel Vessery (48)

TIE Defender (35), Assault Missiles (5), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Veteran Instincts (1)

= 100 points

This one doesn't work that well as a rule, Defenders don't deal well with Stress as their greens are very limited -- PTL is one of the worst choices you put on their Elites. And even with Preadator you are well advised to keep his action to maximize his damage output (which is sorely needed with a 2-ship list) ...

If you intend on using Defenders only and are working with the currently avalible cards, this list has give me some victories:

Rexler Brath (37)

Predator (3)

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Delta Squadron Pilot (30)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

or as an alternative:

Colonel Vessery (35)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Onyx Squadron Pilot (32)

Onyx Squadron Pilot (32)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Brath w/ Predator, HCL

Delta w/ HCL

Backstabber

Brath w/Predator

Vessery

RGP w/PTL or OGP w/Vader (25 points of flavor)

While they aren't popular, I think they are actually very good ships in the current meta full of falcons.

Do you need both defenders? That's a lot points invested in just two ships. Of your two lists, I like the first one the most. It gives you more options, more HP, and more red dice. Still, I don't know if you want to invest the points in both flashy pilots. It seems more useful on another ship (would you rather have an Academy Pilot or the abilities of Vessery and Brath?). Still, here are some two Defender variants of your lists that may be fun:

Delta Squadron X2

Obsidian Squadron X3

or

Delta Squadron + Ion X2

Firespray

or

Vessery

+HLC

+Adrenaline Rush

Delta

Omicron Group Pilot

+ST-321

+Weapons Engineer

If you are ok with just one pilot I highly reccomend "Vessery Goes to Fat Camp"

Vessery + Adrenaline Rush

Scimitar Bomber X4.

I've also been using my "Illegal Weapons Testing" list to great effect:

Vessery + Outmaneuver

Academy Pilot + Targetting Computer

Academy Pilot

Bounty Hunter + Weapon Engineer.

None of these lists are automatically great, but they just give you more ships and more dice. A Defender is a wonderful ship, but it will still die to focused fire. More ships can help water that down.

I got 2 of them and I really want to have them in a competitive list.

Yah its kinda anti-meta and Defenders are so expensive ...

lets try it anyway:

#1----- CRO

Colonel Vessery (36)

TIE Defender (35), Veteran Instincts (1)

Rexler Brath (40)

TIE Defender (37), Predator (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (24)

Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), ST-321 (3) -(OR Vader)-

= 100 points

#2----- Fat Defenders

Rexler Brath (52)

TIE Defender (37), Assault Missiles (5), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Push the Limit (3)

Colonel Vessery (48)

TIE Defender (35), Assault Missiles (5), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Veteran Instincts (1)

= 100 points

What do you think? Are those lists competitive?

Any other ideas?

#1 CRO but if it were me I'd drop Predator from Rexler and add Weapon's Engineer to the Omicron. That will make the shuttle a juicier target, and some players will think to chase it rather than the Defenders. That'd be a mistake, but naked ships often seem like smaller threats.

Not sure 2 defenders (love Delta, always one in my lists) are competitive yet #1 CRO with the title feels good. I'll just suggest FCS+WE to go along Vesseri, with your requirements I'd fly something like:

Delta Squadron Pilot — TIE Defender 30

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35

Veteran Instincts 1

Sigma Squadron Pilot — TIE Phantom 25

Fire-Control System 2

Weapons Engineer 3

Advanced Cloaking Device 4

Delta + HLC x2

Jonus

I've taken on four ships with two defenders before it's not impossible but one bad turn with the green dice could end your day quickly.

I've used two onyx and a mercenary firespray to great effect it's nigh impossible to stay out of their fire arcs and they can take a beating.

Rexler Brath (40)

-Predator

"Echo" (35)

-Veteran's Instincts

-Advanced Cloaking Device

Tempest Squadron Pilot (25)

-Proton Rockets

I use the advanced as a suicide boat, murdering an HVT then exploding spectacularly, leaving Rexler and Echo to clean up the rest like the bosses they are.

Rexler

- PtL

- HLC

-Shield Upgrade

Vessery

- Wingman

- HLC

- Shield Upgrade

IIRC that's 99 points.

14 HP, 8 dice at all ranges. Rexler TLs and Focuses, Vessery Focuses. He clears Rexler's stress and gets a free TL from Rexler. Pound your targets into dust, popping Rexler's ability as the opportunity arises.

If only there were room for VI on Vessery it'd be perfect (he'd shoot first to strip defensive tokens so Rexler has better odds of getting a few hits in on hull without using his Focus).

A 2 ship non-firespay imperial list? madness I say! ...... but it looks like a whole lot of fun. I'll have to try it soon.

With 2 Defenders, I had success (4-1) with:

Jonus + Predator (25pts)

Delta + HLC (37pts)

Delta + HLC (37pts)

Hit them hard at first and then split up if need be.

With a 3 Defender's list, I had success (3-0) with:

Rexler + Predator (40pts)

Delta (30pts)

Delta (30pts)

attack from everywhere and get back as fast as you came.

Rexler

- PtL

- HLC

-Shield Upgrade

Vessery

- Wingman

- HLC

- Shield Upgrade

IIRC that's 99 points.

14 HP, 8 dice at all ranges. Rexler TLs and Focuses, Vessery Focuses. He clears Rexler's stress and gets a free TL from Rexler. Pound your targets into dust, popping Rexler's ability as the opportunity arises.

If only there were room for VI on Vessery it'd be perfect (he'd shoot first to strip defensive tokens so Rexler has better odds of getting a few hits in on hull without using his Focus).

Right ... you cant have both.

Either an excellent attack on a single target but then you have to manage stress on Rexler or you are stressless but rexler cant use its TL / Vessery can't use his ability.

I swear I planned exactly the same 2 lists posted by the OP! haha.

I have tried to fly the first one and had really good results against a 2X2B list, but I haven't tried the second one. Just to add another option, in the first list I've thought about including captain Yorr instead of an Omicron+Vader and then giving Rexler PTL, so the lambda would get the stress and Rexler would be able to hit harder with TL+Focus (which also helps Vessery with his pilot ability).

Step 1. Defender pilot w wingman.

Step 2. Shuttle.

Step 3. Fill to 100 points

Step 4, set dials to white k and zero stop.

Step 5, wait indefinitely?

Rex and Vess are a bad team. Rex uses his TL, then Vessel has no TL to key his ability. Maybe if you had VI on Vessery.

In our local group we've found that the Defender is a great Epic play ship. It's high agility and health help it evade huge weapons or at least survive them. High Firepower is a plus. And for three points you can give it Ion Cannons and those can really change the Epic game. Two defenders dinging the Corvette prevent it from at least firing one or more of it's secondary weapons next turn. Then they can close in to unleash a withering barrage. Not to mention Rexler's ability to flip those devastating crit cards face up on the corvette or transport. But outside Epic I've had no success with them in standard play, too expensive, to stress heavy. Though one guy I knew fixed a lot of that with Engine Modification.

I tried Engine Upgrade on a Defender in 2-3 game and never found it useful for the investment, even on Vessery that always has a TL. I prefer to use the points elsewhere like a cannon or a better escort.

Rex and Vess are a bad team. Rex uses his TL, then Vessel has no TL to key his ability. Maybe if you had VI on Vessery.

Yeah I too found they really really don't synergize well, and they cost a ton to boot.

I tried Engine Upgrade on a Defender in 2-3 game and never found it useful for the investment, even on Vessery that always has a TL. I prefer to use the points elsewhere like a cannon or a better escort.

Yeah, the Defender's action economy is one of its worst aspects. There's almost no reason to ever TL in the first place. For me, it always seems that when I TL, I end up having an attack (or worse usually, an evade) roll that I really needed that focus for.

In our local group we've found that the Defender is a great Epic play ship. It's high agility and health help it evade huge weapons or at least survive them. High Firepower is a plus. And for three points you can give it Ion Cannons and those can really change the Epic game. Two defenders dinging the Corvette prevent it from at least firing one or more of it's secondary weapons next turn. Then they can close in to unleash a withering barrage. Not to mention Rexler's ability to flip those devastating crit cards face up on the corvette or transport. But outside Epic I've had no success with them in standard play, too expensive, to stress heavy. Though one guy I knew fixed a lot of that with Engine Modification.

Too stress heavy? What the heck are you doing to them in the last six games I haven't got stress once on my defenders.

In our local group we've found that the Defender is a great Epic play ship. It's high agility and health help it evade huge weapons or at least survive them. High Firepower is a plus. And for three points you can give it Ion Cannons and those can really change the Epic game. Two defenders dinging the Corvette prevent it from at least firing one or more of it's secondary weapons next turn. Then they can close in to unleash a withering barrage. Not to mention Rexler's ability to flip those devastating crit cards face up on the corvette or transport. But outside Epic I've had no success with them in standard play, too expensive, to stress heavy. Though one guy I knew fixed a lot of that with Engine Modification.

Too stress heavy? What the heck are you doing to them in the last six games I haven't got stress once on my defenders.

He may be playing in a local meta where stress-imparting ships are prevalent, and I'll agree destressing the Defender can be difficult, especially if the person using the stress ability used it at a tactically potent opportunity. (for instance, if you have to turn to avoid asteroids or other collisions.)

They also just have a lot of red on their dials. While not a huge problem once you're used to the strafing style of the TIE-D, it can be a pain if you're trying to knife fight. The Engine Mod that he mentioned could help with this.

They also just have a lot of red on their dials. While not a huge problem once you're used to the strafing style of the TIE-D, it can be a pain if you're trying to knife fight. The Engine Mod that he mentioned could help with this.

Eh, once you get used to the dial, you don't need the EU. They're more like training wheels that doesn't really help you achieve anything more that you would have done anyway without it. And, like TOG said, you're better off keeping your action for a Focus. That's what my experiences taught me, take it for what it is, YMMV.

I normally run a single TIE/D with TIE fighters, and I wouldn't like PTL in that format, because while the Defender has to go straight to dump the stress, the TIEs are fighting on their own, half the squad points are off elsewhere. With two Defenders, though, I think it might work. Since you're only running two pilots, you get more turns in the game (faster turns). You can do a straight approach with PTL pumping Brath's offense, and just blow through, or do a 3-turn or bank somewhere and take no action, then burn a 5-straight to dump your stress and put distance between you and the other squad before K-turning to come around for another long-range pass.

In a list trying for dual Defenders with this in mind, I'd go:

Brath, PTL, HLC, Shield Upgrade: 51

Vessery, VI, HLC, Shield Upgrade: 47

Step 1: Pick a target

Step 2: Brath TLs the target and focuses, Vessery focuses.

Step 3: Vessery fires Focused/TL HLC shot, stripping shields and tokens from target

Step 4: Brath Fires Focused/TL HLC shot (or saves focus to flip damage cards)

Step 5: Break away, come around again

I'm not saying this is a great list, but it's making the most of the named Defender pilots if you're going for 2x fat Defenders.